Impaired lipogenesis in mammary glands of lactating rats fed on a cafeteria diet. Reversal of inhibition of glucose metabolism in vitro by insulin.

In lactating rats fed on a cafeteria diet (chow plus palatable high-energy foods) the decreased glucose uptake and lipogenesis in vitro in acini correlated with the depressed mammary-gland lipogenesis in vivo. Insulin in vitro restored the rate of glucose uptake and its conversion to lipid to values approaching those for acini from rats fed on the chow diet alone.